10 Viral Video
Elements
- Creator Hooks -
Add Rocket Fuel To Your
YouTube Videos
In this guide, you'll see the 10 most common
elements of viral videos. You'll also learn how to
use them and see some examples. They're
ranked in order of most common to least
common.
As you read Creator Hooks each Monday, you'll
see how other creators leveraged these to make
their videos better.
And when you're coming up with video ideas or
crafting the perfect title, keep this book as a
cheat sheet to guide you.
Let's dive in!
- Jake Thomas, founder of Creator Hooks
Curiosity
How to use it:
There are several ways to build curiosity.
Here are a few:
Open a loop
Talk about the future
Challenge assumptions
Unveil a secret
Use contrast
Examples:
The Secret Money Saving Rule I Learned In
Japan
Do THIS to Get Him Hooked in the EARLY
STAGES of Dating
These AIs Are About to Revolutionize Biology
Negativity
How to use it:
You can use negativity to get people to click
by talking about:
Drama
Fear
Loss aversion
Moving away from pain
Examples:
Why THIS Was One Of The Most Terrifying
Scenes In Film History
The Most Powerful Exercise You Are Probably
Not Doing
8 Hunting Rifles I Regret Buying
List
How to use it:
This one is simple — just make a list!
Examples:
I QUIT My $120,000 Job After Learning 3
Things
Top 10 Most HARMFUL Foods People Keep
EATING
5 Biggest Tornadoes In All History
Timeliness
How to use it:
Make a video about what’s on everyone’s
mind right now. (This is also called
newsjacking or trendjacking.)
Examples:
20 Halloween Candies You Should Never
Eat
The 6 TOP Stocks To Buy in June 2021 (High
Growth)
Housing Market... A Correction or Crash? (&
WHEN?!)
Authority
How to use it:
Reference people with influence (like Elon
Musk) or people in positions of influence (like
doctors).
Examples:
5 Ways Rich People Make Money With Debt
Why Alton Brown Is Warning People About
San Marzano Tomatoes
Firearms Expert Reacts To Call Of Duty:
Vanguard’s Guns
Deep Desire
How to use it:
Talk about people’s biggest goals (not
something they just kinda want to achieve).
Examples:
How to Change Your Life in 3 Weeks [ by
2022 ]
How To Lose Stubborn Belly Fat NOW!
START Doing This and Never Be POOR or
BROKE Again
Time Frame
How to use it:
Tell the audience how long it will take them
to reach their goals.
Examples:
How to Relieve Lower Back Pain IN
SECONDS
The Fastest Possible Way To Retire Off
Dividends - Live Off Dividends
1 CARB Keto Nutella in 10 Minutes | Low
Carb, Sugar free, & Healthy
Beginner Tips
How to use it:
Call out beginners specifically and tell them
how to reach their goals, or make a guide to
help beginners get started. This works
because beginners are eager to learn and
they're the largest part of any market.
Examples:
How To Get Your First Push Up - Beginner
Calisthenics and Motivation
Amazon FBA Tutorial For Beginners In 2021
(Step by Step)
How to Buy Your First Apartment Complex
(Step-By-Step)
Epic or Extreme
How to use it:
Do something epic or extreme, or talk about
an epic topic.
Examples:
Scientists Have Found Most Horrible Planet
In Known Universe
I Made A Giant 30-Pound Kit Kat
INSIDE the SMALLEST Apartment in NEW
YORK CITY | 60 ft.² Micro Studio
New Opportunity
How to use it:
Show your audience a new way of achieving
their goals.
Examples:
10K Followers in 10 Days (MY NEW
STRATEGY!)
A Minimalist Approach to Online Business How we DOUBLED our revenue!
Prefab Casitas are the Next Affordable
Housing Solution